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Friday, September 08, 2006

Mark Stenglein's Supporters Stop By

I can see why you printed what you call a "RESPONSE" when what it is, is a DISMISSAL of almost ALL of your complaint against STENGLEIN ! That does leave the remainder of your complaint that STENGLEIN'S COMMITTEE gave TO MUCH MONEY to a neighborhood organization ! I THINK EVEN MARK HIMSELF HOPES YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING HIM GUILTY OF THAT !anonymus

Six days before facing a primary election, Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein was the target Wednesday of a campaign-finance complaint from two critics of the county's decision to help finance a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins.

The complaint, filed by Eva Young and Laura Lehmann, the head of Citizens For a Stadium Tax Referendum, accused the longtime county official of violating state law by failing to keep accurate campaign records and listing questionable expenditures.

In two examples, the complaint questioned why Stenglein spent $285.19 at a restaurant two days before Christmas in 2005 -- a nonelection year -- and bought Gander Mountain gift cards for volunteers two days before Christmas in 2004, another nonelection year.

The complaint, which was filed with the state Office of Administrative Hearings and the Hennepin County attorney's office, also questioned an amended campaign report for 2005 in which Stenglein corrected a $5,620 accounting error.

Stenglein, who is facing two challengers for reelection, said the complaint was a last-minute political attack that was tied to his support for the controversial $522 million Twins stadium. Last week, Stenglein voted to help finance it with a countywide sales tax that would be levied without a referendum. "This is really kind of ridiculous," he said. "It's a cheap shot."

Though Lehmann said the complaint was not directly related to the stadium, she said there were similarities. "I would say it's about trying to hold people accountable for their actions," she said.

For me, this complaint wasn't about the stadium. It was that I have high expectations for ethical behavior from my county commissioner. Mark Stenglein is woefully lacking in that department. People are afraid to speak out against Stenglein because he's vindictive. The only people who can speak out about him are people who don't directly have county business with him.

I have heard from another county commissioner that Mark Stenglein was not happy this article was published.